Garment-supporter.



l 'PATENTBD APR.16, 1907. M. PRERKSON.

GARMBNT SUPPORTBR.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 7; 1905. RENEWED NOV.3, 1906.

UNITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAMIE FRERKSON, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA.

GARIVIENT-SUPPORTER.

To @ZZ whom, t mag/ concerm Be it known that I, MAMIE FRERxsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Garment-Sup-y porters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garment-supporters, and has for its obj ect to provi de a simple, durable, and vinexpensive construction of supporting device which will effectually support the hose and garments clothingl the lower portion of the person from the shoulders and will allow perfect freedom of motion of the body and unrestrictedrespiration, and will also permit ofan erect carriage being maintained and insure freedom from constriction and comfort to the wearer.

Another object is to provide a supporter which is adapted for the use of children and adults of both sexes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is f a front perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a pair of shoulder-straps which are preferably made of inelastic material and are of such length and disposition as to extend over the shoulders and down the back below the shoulder-blades and over the upper portion of the chest. The lower rear ends of these straps are attached by elastic ribbons or short elastic straps 2 to the upper corner portions of a rear stay or union-piece 3, while the front ends of the shoulder-straps are suitably attached to elastic and suspending straps 4. The straps 4 extend down over the chest and terminate at the base thereof or at a point above the waistline and are connected to the tongues of buckles 5, fastened to the upper corner edges of a front stay or union-piece 6.

The two stays or union-pieces 3 and 6 are preferably made of one or more plies of comparatively stiff fabric to stay or support the body at the front and rear adjacent the waist-line and to firmly and securely connect the several parts of the supporter.

It will be observed that the arrangement of the shoulder-straps and suspension-straps 4 is such that the latter-named straps, which are free to yield freely under all movements of the body, extend down over the chest and allow free and unrestricted expansion thereof,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 7, 1905. Renewed November 3, 1906. Serial Patented April 16, 1907.

so that the device will not interfere in any particular with full and deep respiration.

Attached to the lower corner edges of the front stay or union-piece 6 are front hosesupporting members 7, which may be of any preferred construction and preferably have their suspending portions formed of elastic material, so as to allow perfect flexibility in the movements of the body without strain upon the union-piece. In conjunction with these front hose-supporting devices I employ rear hose-supporting devices 8, each consisting of an elastic strap provided at its lower end with hose-engaging means and having its upper end bifurcated to form diverging branches 9 and 10. These rear hose-supporting devices are arranged on opposite sides of the center line of the body, and the branches 9 are connected by hooks and eyes or similar fastenings 11 to the side portions of the rear union-piece 3, While the branches 10 extend forward over the hips and are similarly detachably connected with the sides of the front union-piece 6 by analogous fastenings 12. It will thus be seen that the hose will be supported at front and rear and that `strain will be distributed to the front and rear portions of the supporter, thereby equalizing the strain and preventing the interference to the free motion of the body ordinarily caused when the supporting devices are arranged wholly at the front or at the rear.

To the lower corner portions of the rear union-piece 3 are attached loops or eyes 13,

serving the function of a buttonhole, which are designed to engage buttons upon the rim portion 'of the waistband of trousers when the supporter is used by a male, and to the said rear union-piece between the loops or buttonholes 13 are attached short flexible tabs carrying buttons 14 and 15. buckle-loops 5, connecting the elastic suspension-straps 4 with the front union-piece 6, are attached suspender-ends or straps 16, arranged in pairs in the usual manner and To the ico having buttonholes to engage buttons upon the front portion of the waistband of trousers, thus adapting the device to be worn beneath the shirt-waist, in which event it will be understood that the loops 13 and suspender-ends 1 6 are suitably passed through the shirt and engaged with the waistbandbuttons of the trousers. The suspenderends 16 are also provided above the buttonholes therein with buttons 17, and to the front union-piece 6 below the same are attached short flexible tabs carrying buttons18 and 19. The rear pair of buttons are designed to be used in conjunction with the buttons 17 for supporting a skirt; but, if desired, the front portion of the waistband of the skirt may be engaged with the button 19. The buttons 18 may also be employed for supporting undergarments and to adapt the device for use of persons of different sexes; When the supporter is worn by amale and the use of ordinary hose-supporters is desired, the front hose-supporters 7 are omitted or detached and the rear hose-supporters 8 also detached. The arrangement of the several buttons 14, 15, 18, and 19 is such as to permit both outer and under garments to be readily and conveniently attached to the union-pieces, so that the weight thereof will be supported from the shoulders.

It will be. observed that the elastic suspension-straps 4 are adjustably connected with the buckles 5, so that the shoulder-straps may be tightened or loosened to properly adjust the device upon the person of the wearer and that these straps are connected with the union-pieces in such manner that the strain of supporting the garments will be equally distributed at front and rear, thus preventing any of the parts from interfering with the free motion of the body. The advantages of the device will, it is thought, be apparent from the foregoing description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A garment-supporter comprising shoulderstraps, front and rear union-pieces, said straps having their ends fastened to said unionpieces, front union-piece being provided with suspender-ends, button and buttonhole supporting means, rear union-piece having button and loop supporting means, a front hose-support fastened to front union-piece and a rear liess-support fastened to front and rear union-pieces.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAME FRERKSON. Witnesses:

C. G. WHITTAKER, CORA PERRINE. 

